Lake News Now

More injuries and another death are reported on the state’s waterways. The latest incident occurred on the Lake of the Ozarks just after 11:30 Wednesday night. A boat driven by 47-year old Chris Miller of Lake Ozark hit the shoreline, ejecting 34-year old Katherine Miller. Katherine was seriously injured and taken to University Hospital. Chris suffered minor injuries and … [Read More]

We recently reported on a call-to-action put out by the National Boating Federation asking boaters to help fight a proposed expansion of E-15 ethanol fuel. Now one of the state’s Senators is lobbying for increases in renewable fuels. Claire McCaskill says recent hardship exemptions announced by the EPA undercut biodiesel producers in Missouri. 25 waivers issued since 2016 have led in part to a reduction in the overall production required under the Renewable Fuel Standard. McCaskill says that proposed rules for 2018 call for another reduction down to 19.24 billion gallons, much lower than the 26 billion gallons called for in the original law.

Motorists around the Lake Area are being reminded that several roadway projects are underway which means you might have to find alternate routes getting to your destinations. One of the more traveled routes, driving across Bagnell Dam, closed again today as pavement repairs continue.

NEWS-4-17-18 Dam Work - 17th April 2018

MoDOT Area Engineer Bob Lynch says the dam is scheduled to be closed again today from 8:30 to about 3:00 for that work to be finished. Other projects where you will, likely, run into some delays or slow-going include overlay work on Route-5 in the Camdenton area, guard rail and pavement work along Route-5 south toward Lebanon, and shoulder work along stretches of Highway-17.

At least four Lake Area bodies of water are among the 470, statewide, identified as “impaired” in a report released by the Department of Natural Resources. Three of the four fall, at least, partially in Morgan County: They include: Flat Creek with the main issue being mercury in fish tissue; the Lamine River with the main issue being e-coli and the Straight Fork with the main issue being dissolved oxygen reportedly caused by the wastewater treatment plant in Versailles. Also identified in the DNR’s report is the Little Niangua River in Camden and Dallas counties with the issue being dissolved oxygen…the source being unknown according to the report. The DNR is required by the federal Clean Water Act to report to the EPA on the status of state waters by April 1st of every even-numbered year. A public comment period on the “impaired bodies of water” list is set for April 24th through July 23rd. Public meetings on the issue are set for May 10 and May 24 in Jefferson City with a public hearing to be held on July 16th at the Clean Water Commission meeting.

The 2017 Renewable Energy Standard Compliance Report and the 2018-2020 Renewable Energy Standard Compliance Plan filed by Ameren-Missouri are now, officially, on record. The power producer made good on the public service commission’s regulations to file the two reports which are now available for public inspection. PSC staff will do its once-over on the two filings and file its review no later than May 29th. Any other interested persons or entities also have until May 29th to view the two reports and file any comments. Ameren-Missouri serves about 1.2 million electric consumers in Missouri. The two filings by Ameren are contained under the case number: EO-2018-0287.

For what it’s worth, the Lake Area is pretty much all but shut-out from a 2018 report identifying the top 100 school districts across Missouri. The report is compiled by Background Checks.org based on student performance in math and reading test scores, dropout rates, school funding, and area poverty rates. The only Lake Area district making the grade, coming in at number-35, is the Saint Elizabeth R-4 District. The top-five districts, statewide, were identified as: Ladue, Clayton, Lindbergh, Kirkwood and Brentwood. The backgroundchecks.org report was released Monday.

Camdenton’s Board of Aldermen will learn more about a pair of projects that could lead to economic growth in the area when they meet Tuesday night. City Administrator Jeff Hancock’s report includes details on a proposed study to develop a soccer complex near Wal-Mart and the creation of business incubator to help start-up businesses. They’ll also award bids for a $12,000 re-striping project on Business Route 5, a $119,000 + street overlay project, and a nearly $48,000 rebuild on Suzanne Drive. Tuesday’s meeting begins at 6pm.

Some officials in Camden County are interested in seeing if soccer can bring more economic development to the area. Camdenton City Administrator Jeff Hancock says they’re looking into participating in a study to determine the feasibility of developing a major soccer complex, possibly across from Wal-Mart on East 54. CVB Director Tim Jacobsen would be responsible for securing other funding sources for the study, with the city of Camdenton contributing $3,000. Hancock says he hopes to enter into an agreement with a consultant at the May 1st board of aldermen meeting.

Local News

Camden County officials say they’re cracking down on code enforcement. The county commission has allotted funds for the prosecutor to hire a new employee who will focus solely pursuing violations ranging from sewer and wastewater to planning and zoning and … [Read More]

A lake area chamber of commerce has a different look. The Eldon Area Chamber of Commerce has completed their rebranding, unveiling a new slogan and revamped logo. Mary Oberreither says it was a lengthy process to find what they feel is a truer representation … [Read More]

An 80-year old man is hospitalized following an accident in Miller County. Emmett Scott of Brumley was driving his Ford Ranger eastbound on 42 when the truck went off the road and hit a culvert. The truck then reentered the roadway, sliding to the other side … [Read More]

Lake Area officials continue to urge motorists to be on the lookout for various wildlife crossing our roadways. 67-year-old Ronald Baker, of Camdenton, found that out the hard way when he was riding a motorcycle on Camden County Route-D, just south of Turkey … [Read More]

A 19-year-old from Osage Beach facing one felony possession charge and two misdemeanor charges for possessing marijuana or a synthetic cannabinoid and paraphernalia is being held on a ten-thousand dollar cash-only bond. Alex Johnette Peak was picked up … [Read More]

A Camdenton man charged in three cases after a domestic dispute on New Year’s Eve will stand trial later this year. Corey Michael Wasil waived his formal arraignment in each of the three cases against him. The charges include unlawful possession of a … [Read More]

A continuance has been granted on a drug and weapons case in Camden County. Mikel Lillard had been scheduled for an arraignment this week on nine counts, including unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting arrest, and possession and delivery of a controlled … [Read More]

Grant money is being made available for organizations that may be at high risk for terroristic attacks. The Missouri Department of Public Safety says it’s the first time the grants have been open to groups located outside of major metropolitan areas. … [Read More]

The top-ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is joining a bi-partisan effort targeting the opioid epidemic. Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill released a report, on Wednesday, showing dramatic increases in the … [Read More]

The Overland Park, Kansas, man accused of being drunk while operating a boat that crashed into a rock bluff killing three of his buddies over the weekend is, currently, a free man. The accident happened early Saturday morning at the 47.5 mile mark of the main … [Read More]